MY NEW IDENTITY IN CHRIST

Taken from p.17 Freedom in Christ Discipleship Course Book by Neil T. Anderson and Steve Goss.

 I Am Significant: I am no longer worthless, inadequate, helpless or hopeless. In Christ I am deeply significant and special. God says:

Matthew 5:13,14 I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world

John 15:5 I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
Acts 1:8 I am a personal, Spirit-empowered witness of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:16 I am God’s temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
2 Corinthians 6:1 I am God’s fellow worker

Ephesians 2:6 I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10 I am God’s workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

I Am Secure: I am no longer guilty, unprotected, all alone or abandoned. In Christ I am totally secure. God says:

Romans 8:1-2 I am free forever from condemnation.
Romans 8:28 I am assured that all things work together for good.
Romans 8:31-34 I am free from any condemnation brought against me.
Romans 8:35-39  I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 I have been established anointed and sealed by God.
Philippians 1:6 I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
Colossians 3:1-4 I am hidden with Christ in God.

2 Timothy 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.

Hebrews 4:16 I can find grace and mercy to help in time of need.

1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

I Am Accepted: I am no longer rejected, unloved or dirty. In Christ I am completely accepted. God says:

John 1:12 I am God’s child.
John 15:15 I am Christ’s Friend
Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ’s body.
Ephesians 1:1 I am a saint, a holy one.
Ephesians 1:5 I have been adopted as His child.
Ephesians 2:18 I have direct access through God through the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ.

Phil Robertson, Pharrell Williams, and George Muller

What do these three men have in common? They are all about “Happy”.

Phil and thousands of others are walking around every day saying “Happy, Happy, and Happy”. (I confess I have done this but have since repented J)

Thanks to the movie Despicable Me 2 that made Pharrell’s song “Happy” even more popular.

But most may not have ever heard of George Muller’s Happy (27 September 1805 – 10 March 1898)? I had heard he was a praying man, but I didn’t know about his pursuit of happy. Wikipedia describes him as,

“a Christian evangelist and Director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England, cared for 10,024^[1] orphans in his life.^[2] He was well known for providing an education to the children under his care, to the point where he was accused of raising the poor above their natural station in life. He also established 117 schools which offered Christian education to over 120,000 children, many of them being orphans.”

A few weeks I ran across a quote from Muller about the most important thing in his life. I’ve not be able to shake it out of my mind and in many ways it gives permissions to those of us who follow Christ to be happy J. It seems for some of us (me being one of them) that to ENJOY our relationship with God is wrong. We believe that we should serve God, but it’s more out of a sense of legalistic duty, than a pursuit of Happiness in God. I hope this quote inspires you like it did me.

“The first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord.

The first thing to be concerned about was not how much I might serve the Lord or how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man may be nourished.

I saw that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God and to meditation on it.”

George Muller

Enjoy God today! Be Happy in Him!

Serving in Sumrall

This past Saturday, my daughter Lizzy and I, spent some time with a group from Lamar Baptist association, hosting a FREE garage sale in an apartment complex in Sumrall. Danny Henderson serves at the Director of Missions for the Lamar Baptist Association. I meet Danny a few months ago and was encouraged to find someone who has similar views related to mission work being done in South Mississippi. The method is service/servant oriented, similar to the “Go Fish” outreach we did at Temple Baptist and more recently with the “Bridge Projects” at Turning Pointe Church. You can view the resource sheets Danny gave me below. It may help those of you engaged in similar work. Click ->Lamar Baptist Apartment Outreach

A New Season

Five years ago I sensed a call to leave our church of 12 years and relocated to Petal to be a part of the life and ministry of Turning Pointe Church. During this time our kids have grown physically and we all have grown spiritually and emotional. The people of Turning Pointe have taken us in, cared for us, and taught us how to love and serve more fully.

 

Now we sense God calling us to a new work. There is much that we don’t know. As of now the LORD has put into our hearts, to relocated back to West Hattiesburg (4^th Street Area). Once there we hope to start meeting with others in a Missional Community (A Missions Focused Small Group). We are submitted to His will and trust that he will lead us in his time.

 

First Thessalonians Chapter 2 expresses how Paul felt as he looked back on his time with the Thessalonians Church. In this passage I found verse 8 which summarizes our feelings toward you all; “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” We Love You All.

 

Never stop “Turning People to Christ”,

Trenidy & JJ Davis

Just Sayin’- The Power of Spoken Words

Sermon Notes from: Proverbs 12:12-27

INTRO: Spoken words paint a picture of a possible future. They are prophetic in guiding our lives and the lives of others. The goal of this message is one to help you understand just how important words are; how they ultimately determine the direction of our live. The goal is also to challenge you to use your words to encourage and build up others

•    The God who speaks created creatures who speak.

•    In the beginning how did God spoke the world into creation (Gen 1)

•    Then sends Christ as the Word made flesh (John 1:1-3,14)

•    Jesus demonstrated the power of words by using his words to build up the down cast, rebuke the self-righteous, heal the sick, open blind eyes, and raise others from the dead. He would speak over them and things would happen. When we are dealing with words; we often fail to understand the power of these words.

Proverbs Chapter 12:12-27 – Just Sayin’

The Power of Spoken Words

• What you say will trap or save you. v 13
  • What we say has a way of coming back to bite us.                 
  • Examples of being trapped by your words
    • Politicians
    • Parents threating kids, but no action taken
    • Religions Teachers trying to trap Jesus
• What you say will reward you. v 14
  • What you say determines what you receive.
  • Spoken words paint a picture of a possible future. They are prophetic in guiding our lives and the lives of others.
  • The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Prov 18:21 (NIV)
  • We all have thought coursing through our minds. We’ve learn this summer that not all our thoughts originate in our own minds. Thoughts can come into the mind from the dark side, the spirit world, Satan and his forces. However once we start to speak those words we take a step toward making those e words a reality.
  • Our words guide our lives “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boast.” James 3:3-5 (NIV)
• What you say will build-up or tear-down others. v17-18

  FBV 18 Reckless words pierce like a sword,

  but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Prov 12:18 (NIV)

  You may not beat your wife, you may not beat your children physically, but reckless words pierce like a sword?

  • You are stupid
  • You are good for nothing.
  • You are just like (insert losers name).
  • You are BAD.

     

  But we dress up our tear downs with Just Sayin or Bless their Hearts.

   

  But the tong of the wise brings healing.

  Now this passage turns toward some things that we need to ask ourselves about our words. We want our words to paint a promising future for ourselves and for others around us. There for we must ask ourselves these questions.

3 Questions to ask yourself in order to speak wise words that heal.

• Is what I’m saying true? v19,v22
  • Women: Lie most about their weight and their age
  • Men: Lie most about their age and their income
  • Many People lie about church Membership.

  God would rather have you truthful about your faults, than lying about your strengths.
  

  If we were all honest there are times when we lie. Now we have “great reasons”, we don’t’ want to hurt someone. Or we don’t’ want others to think badly of us so we lie. Unfortunately from some of us this has become such a habit that we no longer see this. God character is true. He stands against thoughts that lie. But I’m a Christian. IF you are a Christian you will be convicted about your lying. Allow God to change that it you. When you speak, speak the truth in love.(Eph 4:15)

• Is what I’m saying few? v23

  The average American opens his mouth 700 every day and utters around 3500 each day. Some of you more, some of you much more, and some of us less. But we are a verbal culture. Before the development of writing as a technology people learning verbally. History, Culture, trade was taught not using books , buy passed on from one generation to the next by speaking.

  Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all. As good as you are you can’t talk and listen as the same time. Using few words allows you to be a better listener, and practice the ministry of presence (Just Being There). Being in someone’s life. I’ve visited with families who have lost children, who have lost parents, who have lost jobs, who are dying and the best thing to say is very little. Just be there.

  Eccl 5:2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

• Is what I’m saying due? v25

There are people in your life waiting for your words. Words of encouragement. Word to build them up. Words of the wise that bring healing.

• God (SALVATION)
  • The Bible tells us at the culmination of history “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:10-11 (NIV)
  • “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:8-10
• Spouses are waiting for words.
• Kids are waiting for words.
• Coworkers are waiting for words.
• Parents are waiting for words.
• Brothers and Sisters are waiting for words

The difficult ard part about these messages is not being a hypocrite. The power of message is not in hearing, but in doing. So in prep for this part I had to make some phone calls this week. And as I stepped out in obedience. I started calling some of the people in my life for whom words were due.

Who do you to need to call or sit down and talk with this week?

What word do they need to hear and you need to say?

Allow God to use this!

Let your words be true, let them be few, and let them be due.

 

  

God is Already Working

It’s been over 25 years since I was introduced to this concept through Henry Blackaby’s “Experiencing God.” And though it often slips from my memory, I return to it time and time again, to enjoy the freedom of this statement.

For much of my Christian life I’ve been trying to “figure out” what it is that I’m supposed to be doing for God. I lose sight of my smallness on the pages and history and forget the fact that long before I was born God was carrying out HIS plan. I also know that long after I’m gone off of the face of this Planet, His plan will continue.

It’s only when we see our short lives in the context of eternity, can we ask the question, “Where is God already at work?” This is a much better question than, “What do I need to do for God?” The foundation of the Christian faith is that while humanity was “lost” in spiritual darkness, God initiated a plan to rescue us (Romans 5). Now human responsibility follows, but God has been and continues to be the initiator of His work.

As Christians we are tempted to run off in a number of directions and then seek to give God credit for doing something. I think a much better approach is to submit our plans to His, by simply looking at what God might already be doing in the lives of other people. God’s work may show up in the physical needs or spiritual questions others may have. Our job is to remain sensitive these opportunities to join God in what he is already doing (John 6).

So let us ask the LORD to open our eyes to His work that is already around us and stop trying to do noble task in which we give the LORD credit for something that we did.

Gospel Centered Discipleship – Book Review

I’m finishing up the book “Gospel Centered Discipleship” by Jonathan K. Dodson. I purchased the booking on a whim, not knowing anything about Jonathan, but interested in others thoughts on discipleship. Jonathan introduces the book with a confession of sorts. After reading a few sentences I found his words resonating with me. I too have “made disciples” not fully understanding what that means. Too many times I’ve converted them to be “my” disciples and not those of Christ.

What follows in the book is not an exhaustive view of discipleship, but one that should call us to evaluate our heart and our motives behind our ministry. The book reaffirms what I have learned through Freedom in Christ Ministries about the finished work of Christ in overcoming our personal sin. Namely that we are not fighting to win victory over sin, but that Christ has already done that. Our battle is in the arena of faith; that we would believe the truth that Christ has in-fact already won.

Jonathan shared a quote from Tyler Durden taken from the book/movie “Fight Club”. I love this quote and it should be a rallying cry for our generation

“We are the middle children of history. No purpose or place. We have no Great War, or Great Depression. Our great war is a spiritual war. Our great depression is our lives.”

In encourage you to read this book.

Make It One, Make It Run, Make It Fun

Several years ago the Director of our I.T. department used this slogan for his organization, which I have never forgotten: “Make it One, Make It Run, Make It Fun”. When it comes to leading a family, business, or ministry I think this phrase is a great reminder for what we need to be about.

 

 

“Make it One”

Unity is the hallmark of greatness. We can all accomplish more together, than we ever could on our own. Spend time building trust with the people you lead. There are no shortcuts here. It takes consistent behavior over time to build trust with people; start today. After all Jesus prayed in John 17:11 (NIV),

“Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name–the name you gave me–so that they may be one as we are one.”

“Make it Run”

I love to surround myself with dreamers. Those who talk about what could be and should be; but once the dreams have been cast someone has to come in and ask the really tough question, “How?” The reasons many of our great ideas don’t work is because we don’t work them. Every time we come up with an idea to accomplish our goals, we should ask ourself and our team, what steps are required to make it work?

“Make it Fun”

Are you having fun? Really ask yourself that question, are you really having fun? If not why? Fun is not the same as joy, but fun is a part of joy. I’m not saying you should be having fun all the time, but I have known some “Christians” whom I wonder if they ever have fun.

I recently watched Charlie Todd’s video, The Shared Experience of Absurdity (click to watch – view with discernment). It left me laughing and asking the questions? What would it take for my family, company, and church to have fun like that? Charlie ends with this quote

“There is no point and that there doesn’t have to be a point. We don’t need a reason. As long as it’s fun.”

However I believe there is a point and we have a reason, so let’s start having fun!

Small Group Leadership

If you are leading a small group Bible study here are a few things to consider.

Your role as a small group leader, in many ways, is that of pastor. You are on the front lines of life.  People lives are changed when they can have meaningful relationships in the context of a small group.

What I’ve learned is that small groups; like everything else organic, has life stages.

• Birth
• Growth
• Plateau
• Decline
• Death

Every small group will be birthed, grow, plateau, decline and die.  Most people will get discouraged if they don’t’ understand this when their group starts to decline, but they all go through these stages.  The people that you meet together in your small group tonight/today will not go on together forever.  It’s important that before a small group starts to decline that it considers what it would take to birth a new group. Since change in the group is inevitable; it makes sense to think about ways to birth a new group out of your current one. 

New groups will eventually be started by new leaders.  So basically what I’m advocating is allowing others within your group to start lead NOW.  IF everyone in the group doesn’t have a job, give them a role. By giving others responsibility for the group, you prepare them for the future when they will be able to lead/facilitate another small group. Here is a list of roles I’ve currently established in the small group I lead.

• Bible Study Coordinator–  This coordinator prepares engaging questions during the week, and facilitates the weekly Bible study allowing everyone the opportunity to participate and share what God is teaching them through his Word.(can be more than one)
  
• Fellowship Coordinator– This coordinator helps the class develop closer relationships through activities and events that bring people together for fun.
  
• Worship Coordinator – This coordinator is responsible for building worship skills in learners and for guiding the class toward spiritual transformation through music and song.
  
• Prayer Coordinator – This coordinator leads the class to become involved in the prayer by coordinating the prayer effort of the small group. (email the prayer list, etc)
  
• Outreach Coordinator – This coordinator looks for ministry opportunities for the class.  Coordinating service projects for the class to minister to those in need.
  

If some of these don’t fit for your group, then make up new roles. People will buy in and give ownership to the group when they can play in the game instead of sit on the bench. Lead others to lead and help them to understand their dependency upon the LORD.

Scott Pittman – Turning Pointe Lead Pastor

I’ve been holding off blogging about my new role at the Turning Pointe; until it becomes official in January.  For now it will suffice for me to share with you a clip from a recent sermon from the Lead Pastor Scott Pittman.  Scott, Dude, you fire me up!  I appreciate your love and passion for the LORD.  I appreciate your openness and I look forward to serving the LORD with you.  Keep allowing God to hone your character and skills.  May HE receive glory through us in this generation! -TD